Bearing



' Ma a, 1923.

1,454,041 8. s. CRAMER BEARING Original Filed Aug. 21. 1919Sfan/gySCramer wlrhlsss Patented May 8, 1923.

STANLEY S. CRAMER, OF CAMDEN, NEW J EBSEY.

BEARING.

Original application filed August 21, 1919, Serial No. 318,886. Dividedand this application filed April T ocZZwlzom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STANLEY S. (human,

a citizen of the United States, residing at lamden, in the county-ofCamden and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Bearings, of which the following is a specification,this application being a division of application Serial No. 818,886,filed August 21, 1919, for pneumatic power generators.

The object of this invention is to provide an improvement in pneumaticpower generators, and particularly those designed to be driven byelectric motors at relatively high speeds, and used among other placesin creating-the vacuum necessary to the operation of pneumaticplayer-pianos.

In addition to player-pianos and other pneumatically operated musicalinstruments, this invention relates to a mechanical constructionexceedingly well adapted for use in any mechanism wherein elementsthereof, especially when comprising electric motor armatures, normallyrevolve at high speeds, either intermittently or steadily over extendedperiods.

Devices of this character are generally used for domestic purposes or inother words where the operator does not, nor is he or she expected to,know how to care for delicate apparatus and mechanisms, as does anexperienced mechanic or skilled worker, and wherefore it is obviously astanding requisite that such devices must be constructed so as tooperate with the highest efficiency often under adverse circumstancesand without necessitating frequent lubrication and other attentiongenerally demanded by such structures.

As has been stated, this invention is particularly applicable to vacuumcreating devices for use on player-pianos, for, throughout long periodswith little or no appreciable wear or deterioration, it is alsonecessary to so design every element of the construction so as to aid inlessening to a minimum the audible vibrations set up by the device whenperforming the function for which it is intended, the effect of suchvibrations being much more apparent when used with musical instrumentsof the constantly te-nsioned ,strin variety as the sounding-boardmounting for the strings serves Serial No. 375,208.

to magnify the vibrations of apparatus in any way connected thereto, andto convey such extraneous vibrations to said strings, with the obviouseffect of mutilating' an otherwise perfect rendition of a given piece ofmusic.

Further details of the construction and operation of the presentinvention are fully brought out on the following description, when readin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is alongitudinal, transverse section of a vacuum-producing apparatusembodying one form of the invention; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailsection of a modified form of lower thrust bearing for the shaft.

Referring to the drawings, there is provided an upper cylindrical casing1, closed at its upper limit by means of a horizontally extendingimperforate wall 2, and at its lower portion provided with a radiallyoutwardly directed peripheral flange 3. The lower portion of theinclosing casing comprises a cylindrical section 4, which is normallysecured by any suitable means 5 to the flange 3 of the section 1, whilethe sides of said lower section are at their lower extent directeddiagonally inwardly at G, and centrally closed by means of ahorizontally extending wall 7, said wall, however, being provided withspaced apertures 8. The inner surfaces of the sections 6 and 7 arecovered by a relatively thick layer of iibrous material 9, which is alsoprovided with spaced apertures 10 registering with the apertures 8 andthe wall 7. Partially covering the lower outer surfaces of the wallsections 6 and 7 is a battle-plate 11, spaced from the section 6 bymeans of suit able sound-insulating walls 12, yet secured againstaccidental removal therefrom bv suitable attaching means 13. u

The inner surface of the cylindrical portion 4 is provided with spacedlongitudinally extending ribs 14, upon the upper portions of which aremounted an equal number of yielding sound insulating bushings 15, andbetween and upon which is positioned the upper flanged portion 16 of aninner cylindrical sheet-metal shell 17, which, adjacent to its uppermostlimits, is provided with spaced apertures 18, and at its lower limits isclosed by a frusto-conical section 19, conforming in general to theshape of the adjacent portions 6 and 7 of the surrounding casing andspaced equi-distant therefrom.

Resting directly upon the bushings '15 and shell flanges 16 are spacedsound insdlating sections of yielding material 20, upon which directlyrests the reduced radially extending peripheral flange portion 21 of asubstantially plain casting 22, centrally apertured at 23 andSlllIOllIldiXlg the lower edge portion of said aperture provided with adepending annular fiange 24, while integral with the portion-22 andsurrounding said aperture is an upwardly extending cylindrical section25, provided at its peripheral edge portion with an outwardly directedcylindrical shoulder 26.

Supported by the cylindrical portion of the casting just described andsurrounding the shoulder 26 is a cylindrical casting 2?, closed at itsupper portion by a transversely extending wall 28, which in turn isprovided with spaced apertures 29 adjacent to the periphery of saidwall, while the latter istprovided with a centrally positioned upwardlyextendi integral cylindrical portion- 30, adapted 0 serve as an oilreservoir and normally closed at its upper end by means of a removablecap or plug 31.

The wall 28 is furthermore centrally provided with an upwardly extendingintegral boss 32 provided with a central axially extending bore 33,forming a bearing for the tubular shaft 34 extending revolvably therethrough. The bore 33 is enlarged and internally threaded at 35to receivea plug 36 shaped as an inverted cup and housing a ball 37 ,which islarger thanthe bore of the shaft 34 and is seated within the end of saidlastnamed bore. vThe plug 3 ,6 is provided centrally with a tapped bore38, through which extends a flat-ended set-screw 39, which in turn issurrounded adjacent to its outer end portion by means of a lock-nut 40.The boss 32 is also provided with a capillary diagonally extending bore41, adapted to convey a pre termined amount of lubricant from theoil-cup 30 into the bore 33 for lubricating the shaft 34 in its hearing.

.The wall 28 is furthermore provided upon its under surface andconcentric with the bore 33 with a centrally disposed recess 42, inwhich is forceda washer 43, loosely surrounding the shaft 34 butconforming within the recess, thus inclosinga suitable section offibrous absorbent material44adaptedto prevent the lubricant from passingin any substant-ial amount down the shaft to the commutator 4,5of theelectric motor, which comprises field-coils 46, within which isrevolvably mounted an armature 47 while suitable brushes 48 aresupported by brush-holders 49,-and said'field-coils are axiallypositioned with respect to the rotating armature by tending through thecylindrical portion 25 of the casting 22.

Suspended beneath the casting 22, and secured thereto by any suitablemeans 51, is a cylinder 52, which co-operates with a shoulder at thebase of the flange 21 in order to position said cylinder exactlyconcentric with the said casting 22. The lowermost portion of saidlast-named cylinder "is spanned by means of ribs 53, in order to providespaced laterally directed openin s 54, while depending from the centerof sai l ribs is an inverted cup-shaped lubricant reservoir 55 normallyclosed by means of a plug 56', while disposed within said reservoir ,andforming an integral extension of said ribs is 21- depending boss 57provided with an axially positioned bore 58, which forms a bearing forthe lower end portion of tubular shaft 34. i

At its upper extent, the bore 58 is enla to provide an annular recess59, in which is placed a section of fibrous absorbent material 60,retained in position by means of a washr 61 secured by a forced fit intothe said lad:

named aperture. Downwardly, the bore 58 is enlarged and internallythreaded It 62 a receive an internal cup-plug 63, which is centrallydrilled and tapped to sup ort a setscrew 64 having a flat upper end andupporting a ball 65, similar to the ball 37, bi d against which thetubular shaft directly cm operates. The set-screw 64 is furthermoresurrounded at its lower end portion by a lock-nut 66, in order toprevent the set-screw from accidental dislodgment. i m i The cylinder52, immediately above. he laterally directed aperture 64, is provi edpreferably with an annular shoulder 67, upon which rests a transverselyextendi annular partition 68, which is lnaint ain fi in normal fixedposition by means of'radially directed set-screws69, and isprovididcentrally with an aperture 70, surrounded its immediate lower periheraledge portion by a depending flange 81. This partition 68 isprovided with a plurality vof upw ardlj extending stationary blades 7 2,each starting from the aperture 70, and as it rogresses radiallyoutwardly being curv in a clockwise direction, for a purpose herein- 4after described.

Mounted upon the lower portion of the tubular shaft 34 is a hub 73, providedflwith a radially extending plane flange 74, upon the uppersurface of which 'are secured spaced vanes or ribs 75 and '16," saidvases being preferably designed so that the latter extend downwardlyfrom the said hub periphery of said flange, while the formei' vanesextend to the periphery of said flan from points spaced from said hub.construction, together with the disc forming a shroud and connecting theupper means of radially directed set-screws 50 exfree edge portions ofsaid vanes, comprises a centrifugal fan or blower unit, which upon itsunder side is preferably provided with an axially positioned recess 78,into which ex tends a nut 79, operative to secure the said fan unitsupon the shaft 34, and positioned opposite to though normally spacedfrom the washer 61. The shroud 77 is centrally apertured at 80 to admitair into the spaces between the vanes 75 and 76 from the region abovethe horizontally extending partitions 68, as it passes through theaperture 70 in said partition.

A second blower unit is likewise secured to said shaft in any suitablemanner, and is positioned between the unit first described and thearmature of the driving-motor, said unit comprising a hub 81, whichextends and contacts with the hub 73 up to the armature above referredto, and is provided substantially mid-way its longitudinal measurementwith a radially extending plane flange 82, which latter terminates atits outer periphery in a depending cylindrical flange 83, operative todirect air-currents passing thereby over the peripheral edge portion ofa shroud 84 which covers the three upper edge portions of the vanes 72of the partition 68. The flange 82 is provided with upwardly extendingvanes 85 preferably exactly similar in number, position and shape withthose hereinbefore described as comprising portions of the first fanunit, and these vanes 85 are connected at their upper free edges bymeans of a shroud 86.

And referring to Fig. 2, the hollow shaft 34: is shown as restingsubstantially vertically upon a hard metallic disc 90, adjustablysupported by a set-screw 91, carried centrally by a plug 92 and fixed inposition by means of a locknut 93. The said plug is cupped to preferablypartially surround and position the said disc, and is removably threadedin the lower'portion of the boss 57 hereinbefore described, and throughwhich boss is also journalled the shaft 34.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protectby Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In combination with a.shaft having a bore operative to convey a lubricant, a ball of largerdiameter than said bore and extending thereinto, said ball forming abearing for said shaft against the lateral limits of said bore andadapted to be lubricated by a lubricant from within said bore, and

means to removably support said ball.

2. In combination with a shaft having a lubricant-conveying bore, meanshaving a journal bearing for said shaft, a ball of larger diameter thanand extending into said bore to "form. a bearing for said shaft, andmeans adjustably carried by said first means to support said ball.

3. In combination with a shaft having a bore, means having a journalbearing for said shaft and an enlarged aperture in said means concentricwith said bearing, a ball of greater diameter than the bore of saidshaft and in uniform contact with the sides of said bore, and axiallyadjustable means extending into said aperture and supporting said ballto predetermine the longitudinal position of said shaft.

4. In combination with a shaft having a bore, means having a journalbearing for said shaft and an enlarged internally threaded aperture insaid means concentric with said bearing a ball of greater diameter thanthe bore of said shaft and in uniform contact with the sides of saidbore, and a plug extending into said aperture in threaded contacttherewith and supporting said ball to adjustably determine thelongitudinal movement of said shaft in one direction.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

STANLEY S. CRAMER.

lV'it-ness J. STUART FREEMAN.

